Polypyrrole coated nylon lycra fabric as stretchable electrode for supercapacitor applications

Authors

Binbin Yue, University of Wollongong
Caiyun Wang, University of WollongongFollow
Xin Ding, Donghua University, China
Gordon G. Wallace, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

54490

Publication Details

Yue, B, Wang, C, Ding, X & Wallace, GG (2012), Polypyrrole coated nylon lycra fabric as stretchable electrode for supercapacitor applications, Electrochimica Acta, 68, pp. 18-24.

Abstract

Wearable electronics offer the combined advantages of both electronics and fabrics. Being an indispensable part of these electronics, lightweight, stretchable and wearable power sources are strongly demanded. Here we describe a daily-used nylon lycra fabric coated with polypyrrole as electrode for stretchable supercapacitors. Polypyrrole was synthesized on the fabric via a simple chemical polymerization process with ammonium persulfate (APS) as an oxidant and naphthalene-2,6-disulfonic acid disodium salt (Na₂NDS) as a dopant. This material was characterized with FESEM, FTIR, tensile stress, and studied as a supercapacitor electrode in 1.0 M NaCl. This conductive textile could endure 1000 stretching cycles with 100% strain applied, and still retained its electrical conductivity and electrochemical properties. Interestingly, we also found that this material showed improved electrochemical properties when it was being stretched.